June 22, 2007

Perino Signs with Illinois (April 12, 2007)

Buckley and Fernandez Sign with Illinois (November 8, 2006)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois women's gymnastics coach Bob Starkell announced the addition another gymnast to his squad for the 2007-08 season. Lashlee Morris (Leesburg HS, Leesburg, Fla.) signed a national letter of intent with the Fighting Illini last week and will join three other student-athletes in a talented incoming class. Morris joins Allison Buckley (Conant HS, Schaumburg, Ill.) and Melissa Fernandez (Eudora HS, Eudora, Kan.), who both signed in November, and Samantha Perino (Tabb HS, Yorktown, Va.), who signed in April, in next year's freshman class.

The four talented freshmen will join an Illinois squad that is already poised for big things in 2008. Twenty-two of 24 routines return from last year's team that finished third at the Big Ten Championships, fourth at the NCAA South Central Regional and was ranked 20th in the final national rankings.

Starkell and the rest of the Illini coaching staff are excited about the talents this year's freshman class will bring to the gym.

"I think that Lashlee, and all of our incoming freshmen, will be able to come in and not only compete for spots in the line-up, but also push our current athletes to get better," said Starkell. "As a coaching staff, we can't wait for these four young ladies to get on campus this fall."

Lashlee Morris Profile
Hometown: Leesburg, Fla.
High School: Leesburg High School
Club: Brandy Johnson's Global Gymnastics Academy

Notes: Two-time Level 10 national qualifier ... Finished 19th in the all-around and 11th on beam at the 2007 L10 nationals in the Senior D group ... Tied for 30th in the all-around and placed seventh on beam and 11th on bars at the 2006 L10 nationals in the Senior B group ... Five-time Level 10 regional qualifier ... 2007 L10 regional all-around champion and placed second on beam and third on bars ... Was the uneven bars champion and placed fifth in the all-around at the 2006 L10 regional meet ... Club coaches are Brandy Johnson-Scharpf, Kelly Pitzen and Louis Garcia.

Coach Starkell on Morris
"We are excited to add Lashlee to our Illini family. She has a delightful disposition about her and you can't help but smile when you talk with her. She has a great love for the sport, and I truly believe she can be an instant asset to this program. Lashlee has three great coaches that have done an excellent job training her, and that shows in that she is a complete gymnast with no real weak event. There is no question that Lashlee will be a good gymnast, but I also think that she has all the attributes to be a great student-athlete."

Morris on becoming an Illini
"As soon as I met the girls, I felt right at home and immediately saw myself being a part of the team. The girls and the coaches are so down to earth and welcoming. I was also excited about the outstanding kinesiology program that the university offers. I felt that I could have the best of both worlds at Illinois; getting to be a part of a great gymnastics family, while obtaining a great education at the same time."